New initiative prepares Saudi women to enter workforce

On International Women’s Day, the International Youth Foundation (IYF), J.P. Morgan, and Hilton together with Saudi social enterprise, Alf Khair, announced the launch of a new employability initiative to prepare unemployed young Saudi women with skills training and job placement in the retail, hospitality, and other promising sectors.
“Through our global partner network, IYF proudly draws on the rich experience of organizations such as Alf Khair,” said Bill Reese, IYF CEO. “Their local knowledge and networks allow us, J.P. Morgan, and Hilton to more effectively achieve our goal of preparing young Saudi women to access quality employment.”
The initiative will offer work readiness training using IYF’s proven Passport to Success (PTS) curriculum. The skills learned in these interactive sessions include time management and problem solving and will serve these young women throughout their careers and lives. Participants then will be placed in jobs with established employers in the retail and hospitality sectors, where they will receive three to four weeks of job-specific technical training plus mentoring from within the hiring company.
In Saudi Arabia, 60 percent of young women are unemployed, compared to 17 percent of young men. The government of Saudi Arabia has prioritized increasing young women’s employment, and associated regulatory changes have prompted a greater willingness by companies to hire young women.
Bader Alamoudi, senior country manager, J.P. Morgan Saudi Arabia, said: “Woman are an important part of any competitive workforce.  At J.P. Morgan in Riyadh, more than 35 percent of our employees are women. We are proud to support this innovative program to help young Saudi women enter the labor market in industries that can offer good jobs.”
To ensure success on the ground in Riyadh, the initiative has engaged local partner Alf Khair. This social enterprise will recruit and pre-screen participants, prepare them for job interviews, provide an orientation on the sectors and employer expectations, and offer one-on-one follow-up support once young women have secured employment.
“Hilton’s future depends on resilient and thriving societies and that starts with investing in young people. Hilton has been continually recognized as a leading employer in Saudi Arabia and employs 209 female team members in the country, including 158 Saudi nationals,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, president Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Hilton.